Clean Energy Archives | Building and Construction Technology

Ezra Small speaks about UMass Amherst’s sustainability efforts

March 19, 2019August 11, 2020 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

The first lecture of our spring BCT seminar series was given by Ezra Small, who holds the title of Campus Sustainability Manager at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. In his engaged presentation, Ezra outlined the various efforts that UMass is undertaking to improve food supply, reduce waste, promote green building and reduce energy consumption, and support climate- and carbon-goals of the university and the state. Synopsis Mr. Small’s role within Facilities & Campus Services includes implementing sustainable systems to reduce the campus environmental footprint in energy, transportation, and waste. Notable accomplishments include establishing the Sustainability, Innovation & Engagement Fund, installing the largest solar project on a college campus in New England, winning the Massachusetts Leading by Example Award for outstanding environmental and energy leadership, helping the campus win the Second Nature Climate Leadership Award, and most recently launching ValleyBike, the largest electric assist bike share program in the Americas. Links Presentation Slides Sustainable UMass Presentation Slides https://youtu.be/IiwIIfEpLdc...

Zac Bloom of Competitive Energy Systems speaks on Energy Procurement Strategies

November 6, 2018July 22, 2020 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

In the third talk of our fall lecture series, BCT alumnus Zac Bloom, spoke about Designing Energy Procurement Strategies. Zac, who is Director of Sustainability and Renewables at Competitive Energy Systems (CES), was intricately involved in many energy projects including the recently installed UMass 5 MW solar array. In his talk, he gave us a broad and eloquent overview of the many factors that influence energy purchasing and systems selection. Synopsis Mr. Bloom originally joined Competitive Energy Systems (CES) in 2012 as a Business Development and Account Manager and was soon promoted to Director of Sustainability & Renewables. Now CES's Vice President, Head of Renewables & Sustainability, Mr. Bloom primarily consults with universities and large commercial customers on energy procurement strategies, budgeting, sustainability, energy benchmarking and CES’s proprietary Utility Tracker. Prior to joining CES, at UMass Amherst, Mr. Bloom focused his studies on energy benchmarking and data visualizations for large data sets associated with building’s resource consumption profiles. https://youtu.be/UjClvszwKd8 Links Presentation slides Competitive Energy Systems UMass Solar Projects...

Jonathan Wright of Wright Builders speaks about their Living Building Challenge projects

October 22, 2018August 11, 2020 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

In the second BCT lecture of the fall season, Jonathan Wright of Wright Builders spoke about "Building at the Edge of Sustainability" as exemplified in their various Living Building Challenge projects. In his engaging talk, he outlined the process behind the Kern Center at Hampshire College and various other buildings and also provided an outlook for the future of sustainable construction. Synopsis Mr. Wright, a graduate of Hampshire College, has been an active regional leader in sustainable design and construction since 1976. The firm he co-owns, Wright Builders, Inc., recently completed two Living Building Challenge projects (R.W. Kern Center & Hitchcock Center for the Environment) achieving the highest standard of renewable and resilient design and construction. His upcoming book Spirit of the Makers will be published by Ecotone Press in 2019. His journalism has spanned several decades, and in 2018 his poetry and photograph collection Season of Dreams joined the 2014 poetry collection, After the Rain. Links Presentation slides Wright Builders Living Building Challenge Presentation Slides https://youtu.be/qN128ZRIveo...

BCT Alumnus Profile: Zac Bloom

June 25, 2018June 8, 2018 by L. Carl Fiocchi Comment Closed

We recently met up with Zac Bloom who pursued our Professional Master’s program in Building Systems and is now Director of Sustainability & Renewables at Competitive Energy Services. Thinking back on his time at UMass, he provided the following summary and advice for other students: "Building and Construction Technology at UMass Amherst was instrumental in preparing me for my career in the energy industry. I came to BCT from the financial services industry. As a result, I was already familiar with the capital and commodities markets when I arrived at UMass. The BCT program rounded out my education by providing me the tools to understand building construction, energy usage and the demand or consumer side of the energy equation. Learning about energy modeling, building materials and mechanical systems allowed me to connect both sides of the energy system and to provide more value to my clients in my current position as Director of Sustainability & Renewables at Competitive Energy Services ("CES"). I came to CES...

Marta Bouchard of Atelier Ten speaks about Integrated Sustainability Planning for the Design Building

April 7, 2017August 11, 2020 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

In her talk, which was part of BCT's 2017 spring lecture series, Marta Bouchard of Atelier Ten explained the decision processes behind the many sustainability-related aspects of the Design Building, like its building envelope, ventilation, daylighting, energy modeling, materials, and others. Links: Atelier Ten Presentation Slides https://youtu.be/kXLx7WO5E6o...